Auroch Digital, the studio behind the critically acclaimed Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2, has announced layoffs, only to delete and then repost the announcement weeks later. The initial statement cited "market conditions" impacting the studio, despite the recent success of its latest release.
"Despite that creative success, the same market conditions that have challenged so many of our fellow developers have now also affected us," the original October 26 statement read. "Consequently, we have made the decision to restructure the studio to work through a turbulent and uncertain time in our industry."
This initial announcement generated confusion, with many questioning if the studio had reconsidered its decision or was dissatisfied with the wording. The company subsequently reposted the announcement on October 28, confirming that layoffs would proceed. The precise number of affected employees was not disclosed in the repost, though a now-deleted LinkedIn message indicated that approximately 25 percent of the Bristol-based studio's staff would be impacted.
Auroch Digital released Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War! earlier in 2023, followed by Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 in mid-October. The studio also has Warhammer Survivors scheduled for release on November 10.
Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun 2 has achieved a 96 percent positive review rating on Steam, though it has garnered fewer than 1,000 user reviews. Its predecessor, released in 2023, has accumulated over 11,000 reviews on Steam and was later made available on Game Pass. The situation reflects a broader trend in the industry where even successful game launches do not guarantee financial stability for studios at their current operational capacity.